Fly-tape.



N. L. FOSTER.

FLY TAPE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1903.

Patented Apr'. 20, 1909.

' ZZZ/191 mm: 44 637 UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIOE.

NATHANIEL L. FOSTER, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIS-FOSTER GOM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FLY-TAPE tion.

My invention relates to insect catchers of the sticky variety, and more particularly to that class of such catchers known as fly tape.

As is well known, the fly tape of commerce is put on the market in rolls or bales, inclosed in, or associated with various forms of boxes or cases containing a specially prepared sticky substance in the nature of a paste. These boxes are designed to be suspended from any convenient support, and the tape so arranged that, when unwound from the roll, it is drawn through the sticky paste, and becomes coated with the same.

In practice, the user grasps the end of the tape, and pulls out a convenient length, which, being covered with the sticky material, is allowed to hang from the box, and serves to catch any flies or. other insects which happen to alight on it. WVhen, however, the exposed portion of the tape has become used up, and it is desired to withdraw more tape, so as to expose a fresh surface, it is necessary to first cut off with scissors the exhausted piece of tape, and then grasp the projecting end with the fingers, and pull it out to the desired length. This operation results in besmearing the scissors and the hands of the user with the sticky paste, which, owing to its peculiar c0mp0- sition, is extremely difficult to remove.

It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to overcome this objection, and to provide means whereby the tape may be cut 0H as desired, without the necessity of bringing the fingers or scissors into contact with the paste.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view showing my invention as it appears in use. F ig.- 2, is an enlarged side elevation of one form of box or case, parts being in section, and showing an edge elevation of the fly tape embodying my invention. Fig. 3, is an en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 453,557.

larged perspective view of a fragment of my. improved tape. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1, designates a well known form of box or container, triangular in shape and adapted to be suspended, point down, by means of a cord 2, from any suitable support 3.

The tape is indicated at 4:, and may be of any suitable material. In the instance shown, this tape is arranged in the form of a roll or bale, in the upper part of the box, 1, and extends downwardly through the sticky paste, 5, contained in the lower part, or apex of the box.

My invention consists in applying to this tape, at suitable intervals, small tabs or tongues, 6, preferably made of paper. As clearly shown, these tabs are attached to the tape at one end only, as at 7, Fig. 2, and are arranged in pairs, one on each side of the tape. The tabs are preferably of slightly greater width than the tape, and project. beyond the edges thereof, as at 8, so that the tape is inclosed between the tabs as shown at the upper end of Fig. 3. By reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed, therefore, that, as the tape is drawn out through the paste, the portion thereof beneath the tabs does not come in contact with the paste at all, but is kept perfectly clean and dry. The paste is applied, however, to the outside of the tabs, and, after being subjected to the air for a short time, has a tendency to cause the tabs to curl as shown at 9, near the bottom of Fig. 3, thus exposing the clean dry place, 10, on the tape immediately beneath them.

The appearance of the device when in use is shown in Fig. 1. It is evident that when it is desired to cut off the used piece of tape, the scissors may be inserted between the curled up ends, 9, of the tabs, and the tape severed at this point without bringing the scissors into contact with the paste covered portion, and at the end of the tape there will always be left a clean spot, 10,

which may be grasped without danger of soiling the hands. 10 designates the clean end resulting from the cutting oil of the next preceding section or length of tape, thus affording a place at which the presentsection may be conveniently gripped.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very simple and eflicient means for overcoming a great objection to this class of device, and, since it may be applied With equal facility, to any of the existing forms of fly tape and dispensing apparatus, it is thought the numerous advantages of my invention will be readily a )preciated by all those skilled in such matters.

hat I claim is 2 l. an article of manufacture, a fly tape having tabs secured thereto at intervals, and serving to cover the underlying portions thereof, said tabs being separable from the tape through part of their length.

As an article of manufacture, a fly tape having pairs of tabs secured thereto at intervals, one on each side of the tape, said tabs being separable from the tape through a portion of their length, and serving to cover and protect the underlying surface of he tape in coatin 5. As an article of manufacture, a fly tape having pairs of tabs secured thereto at in tervals, one on each side of the tape, said tabs being separable from the tape through portion of their length, and being of slightly greater Width than said tape, Whereby they serve to completely cover portions of the same in coating.

4. As an article of manufacture, a fly tape havin Jan-s of tabs secured to o )l)OS1t6 sides thereof at intervals, said tabs being Y therethrough, of tabs secured to the tape at intervals, and serving to protect that portion of the tape beneath them from becoming' covered with the paste.

(3. The )11'1l)i111ti01'1, with a receptacle containing a coating composition, and a tape adapted to be drawn tnerethrough, of a pair of tabs secured to said tape, one oneach side thereof, and serving to protect the under lying surface of the tape from contact with the said composition, said tabs being separable from the tape through a? portion of their lengtl'i.

In testimonv whereof I atlix my signature in presence oi two Witnesses.

NATHANIEL L. FOS. Eli.

itnesses SUIEON B. GIIITTENDEX, HENRIETTA BERKWTTZ.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 919,149.

ment in Fly-Tape,

issued to the invento being the assignee of assignments in this ofiice; and that the said L correction therein that the same [SEAL] were erroneously issued to the Ellis-Foster Company,

Rochelle, New York, for an improveas owner in said invention; whereas said Letters Patent should have been 1, said Foster, and the Ellis two-thirds interest only in etters may conform to the y of June, A. D., 1909.

-Foster Company, jointly, said'company said patent, as shown by the record of Patent should be read with this record of the case in the Patent 0. O. BILLINGS, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

